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Gabriella Rodriguez '27 believes that Shakespeare's texts should be read in their original English.
By Gabriella Rodriguez ʼ27
Opinion Editor
Opening a play — or any literary work — that was written hundreds of years ago can be a tremendously daunting task. The English language is incredibly dynamic and has evolved so much over the centuries that old texts might seem indecipherable through a modern lens. However, by reading these texts in their original forms, we can better appreciate the artistry of their creators and gain insight into the past.
The difficulty of reading old texts can come from the massive linguistic changes the English language has experienced over its lifetime. According to Britannica, English as we know it has undergone several significant and overarching changes. First emerging from the early Proto-Indo-European language, spoken about 5,000 years ago, it has since branched out and proliferated into various forms. Its popularity eventually gave way to Middle English following the sharp decline of Old English following the Norman Conquest of 1066.
David Crystal, a British linguist, explains that Middle English was dominant from 1150 CE to 1450 CE and that some important grammatical changes occurred during this time, including changes to the forms of infinitive verbs, auxiliary verbs and pronouns. The form of English that we speak today is known as Modern English. According to Dictionary.com, Modern English also contains many loanwords from other languages.
This has resulted in a variant of English whose vocabulary and character is radically different from its predecessors. Due to the tremendous differences between Modern English and previous forms of the language, it often feels daunting to try and read and understand old texts.
Some words have taken on new meanings in the modern context or have become obsolete altogether. Although some new editions — such as the “No Fear Shakespeare” series — provide modern-day translations of the old text, they do so at the expense of the carefully crafted meaning and meter of the original language.
The way characters deliver their lines is dramatic, following a certain cadence and a deliberate lyrical feeling. Therefore, it is imperative that we work to understand these works of literature in their original forms while also evaluating how their themes affect us in our modern age. While it is often difficult to understand the language of these literary works, it is necessary that we bridge the gap between the past and the present.
This demands struggle and effort on our part, but it is critical that we do it. Old texts are not only about the stories that they tell but the way that they convey their narratives. If we erase the original style of the story, then we disregard the efforts of the creators.
Similarly, reading primary documents in history courses allows us to have direct insight into what people thought and believed in the time periods that we are studying. We can paraphrase their language, but we may not feel the full impact of their words unless we read from the original version. By reading literary works directly from their creators, we gain valuable insight into their writing style and even how they thought.
The better we understand the past, the more thoughtful dialogue we can spark about the present and the future. Since we use primary sources to gain a more thorough understanding of historical figures and events, it is vital that we extend this same respect towards old literature and authors.
With supplementary definitions and plot explanations, we can more thoroughly appreciate the works of writers who came before us without sacrificing their original words. By documenting the history of language, we can better understand our own place in history and the ever-evolving character of our words. As our language continues to evolve, it is important that we honor the original language of writers who came before us and preserve our own literary works so that future readers can do the same.